Title :
CMOS ring oscillators as teaching tools
Author :
Moore, D.F. ; Holburn, D.M. ; Nockolds, C.E. ; Rosolen, G.C.
Author_Institution :
Eng. Dept., Cambridge Univ., UK
fDate :
4/1/1992 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A set of full custom CMOS chips has been designed in undergraduate projects in each of the past five years (1987 to 1992). Experience of several generations of ring oscillators has shown their usefulness both as teaching tools in set experiments and as projects. Using a ring containing 113 elements, high-performance gates with subnanosecond delays can be measured using teaching laboratory equipment and the results can be compared with SPICE simulations of the devices. Students also use a scanning electron microscope on the CMOS ring chips which contain stripped-own logic gates to allow examination of the device construction and technology
Keywords :
CMOS integrated circuits; integrated circuit technology; integrated logic circuits; oscillators; student laboratory apparatus; CMOS; CMOS ring chips; SPICE simulations; full custom CMOS chips; high-performance gates; laboratory equipment; projects; ring oscillators; scanning electron microscope; set experiments; stripped-own logic gates; subnanosecond delays; teaching tools; undergraduate projects;
Journal_Title :
Circuits, Devices and Systems, IEE Proceedings G
